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2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. P. HINKEL.

ALBUM CLASP- No. 405,478. Patented June 18, 1889.

W/T/VESSES:

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. P. HINKEL. ALBUM CLASP.

No. 405,473. PatentedJilne 18, 1889.7

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ATTORNEY NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ERNST PHILIPP HINKEL, OF OFFENBACH-ON-THE HAIN, GERMANY.

ALBUM-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,473, dated June 18,1889.

Application filed February 12, 1889. Serial No.299,6l6. (N model.)Patentel in Germany October 11, 1888, No. 45,772.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ERNsTPHILIPP HINKEL, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, residing at Offenbach-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented newand useful Improvements in Album-Clasps, (for which I have receivedLetters Patent in Germany dated October 11, 1888, No. $5,772,) ofwhich'the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in album-clasps, and has for itsobject to provide a clasp of simple, durable, and economicalconstruction, which may be adjusted to an increased thickness of thealbum in a convenient and expeditious manner.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointedout in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an album having my improved claspapplied thereto, said clasp being illustrated as in a locked position.Fig. 2 is an end view of the album, illustrating the clasp in a sideelevation and in a locked position. Fig. 3 is -an end view of the album,illustrating the clasp attached thereto as unlocked. Fig. 4c is acentral vertical section through the body of the clasp. Fig. 5 is atransverse section on line 00 0c of Fig. at. Figs. 6 and 7 are partialvertical sections of the several parts of the body of the claspdetached; and Fig. 8 is a partial side elevation of analbum,illustrating the attachment thereto of a keeper-plate.

It is well known that albums increase in thickness as the number ofphotographs introduced therein increases, and that when an ordinary orunyielding clasp is attached to an album the said clasp produces adeformation of the cover when the book is closed. I am aware, however,that clasps have heretofore been made which adj ustthemselvesautomatically to the book, and my invention is a clasp of theabove-named type.

To the opposite sides of the album 10 plates 11 and 12 are secured inany approved manner, which plates are preferablyattached near the frontedge of the cover and extend over the edge of the same, as illustratedin Fig. 1. The plate 11 is adapted to act in the capacity of ahinge-plate, and the plate 12 as a keeper or clasp-plate. To that endthe plate 12 is provided upon the upper edge, preferably at the center,with two spaced buttons 13, capable of receiving one extremity of theclasp, as will be hereinafter described. The hingeplatell is providedupon the outer or edge surface near each end with a lug or head 14:, inwhich the pintles 15 of apreferably cylindrical bar 16 are journaled,the said bar 16 constitutinga portion of the clasp. The body of theclasp is constructed in two parts 17 and 1S, and both sections 17 and 18are tubular. The section 17 however, is of greater diameter than thesection 18, and is secured at one end in any approved manner to thehinged bar 16, as best illustrated in Fig. 7. In the tubular section 17a coil or spiral spring 19 is longitudinally held, the outer end ofwhich spring is free, and the inner end rigidly fastened to the back ofthe said section 17, as best illustrated in Fig. 4. The smaller tubularsection 18 is adapted to telescope within the section 17 and from theinner surface of the said smaller section 18, at the inner end, a log ornose 20 is inwardly projected, adapted to engage with the spring betweenthe coils or spirals when the two sections of the body are united, asshown in Fig. 4. The outer end of the smaller or inner section 18 isclosed, and from the said closed end a neck 21 is projected, terminatingin a ball 22 or equivalent ornament.

In looking the clasp the neck 21. is made to pass between the twobuttons 13 of the claspplate, and is prevented from falling out ofcontact with the said buttons by reason of the contact of the ball 22with the neck of the said buttons below the head, as illustrated in Fig.1.

It will be readily observed that by turning the outer end of the innersection 18 of the body of the clasp either to the right hand or to theleft the reach of the clasp can be either lengthened or shortened atwill, and in this manner the clasp can be easily adapted to a book,whether it be thick or thin. It will be further observed that by reasonof the attachment of the two sections in the manner above described theclasp will at all times have a certain amount of elasticity.

I-Iavin g thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In an album-clasp, the combination of twotelescopic sections and a spring secured in one section and adj ustablyconnected to the other section, substantially as described.

2. In an album-clasp, the combination of two telescopic sections, one ofthe sections being provided with anose orlug, and aspiral spring securedin one section and receiving the nose or lug of the other sectionbetween its spirals, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In an album-clasp, the combination, with a hinge and keeper plate, ofa hinged cylindrical section, a smaller cylindrical section fitting inthe hinged section and provided with anose or lug and adapted to engagethe keeper-plate, and a spring secured in the hinged section and havingits spirals engaged by the nose of the smaller section, substantially asspecified.

4. The combinatioinwith a hinge-plate and a hinge-bar journaled thereon,of aclasp consisting of two tubular telescopic sections, the outersection provided with a longitudinallydisposed spiral or coil springrigidly secured at one end, and an inner section having alug or noseprojected downward from the inner end, capable of contact with the saidspring between the said coils, a locking device integral with the outerend, and a clasp-plate provided with spaced buttons adapted to receivethe locking device, all combined for operation substantially as shownand described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNST PI-IILIPP HINKEL.

\Vitn esses:

J OSEPH PATRICK, FRIEDRICH QUEHL.

